warning CHEVROLET BLAZER 1993 User Guide

Featums & Contmls
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
I
PB005
With anti-lock, this light will go on when you start your eng\
ine and may stay
on for several seconds or
so. That’s normal.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, your vehicle needs
service. Unless the regular brake system warning light is also on, you will still
have brakes,
but not anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, see “Brake System Warning
Light” earlier in this section.
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CHECK GAGES Light
This light will come on briefly when you are statling the engine. If the light
comes on and stays on while you are driving, it could indicate a problem with
your vehicle. Check your various gages to see if they are in the warning
zones.
C “5 XK
GAGES
K2330
Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Indicator tight (Canada Only)
K2318
If your vehicle was first sold, when new, in Canada, you will have this green
light on the instrument panel. It will light,
just above the speedometer,
whenever the Daytime Running Lights are on. For more details a\
bout
DRL,
see “Headlights and Vehicle Lighting’’ in this section.
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A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a dangerouslv low oil
level or other problem causing low oil pressure. Check your oi\
l as soon as
possible.
CAUTION
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine
can become so hot that it catches on fire, You or others could be
burned. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
e NOTICE
I
Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems can rnstly at,,
not covered by your ‘Avanty.
I
Voltmeter
Standard Cluster
14
Tachometer Cluster
19
GL
K2336
When your engine is not running, but the ignition is on (in \
the Run position),
this gage
shows your battery’s state of charge in DC volts. When the engine
is running, the gage shows the condition
of the charging system. Readings
between the low and high warning zones indicate the normal ope\
rating range.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible problem in \
the electrical
system.
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Features & Controls
You can only drive for a short time with the reading in either warning zone. If
you must drive, turn off all unnecessary accessories, and have the vehicle
serviced as soon
as possible.
Convenience Net
CAUTION
A
An improperly stored convenience net could be thrown about the
vehicle during a collision
or sudden maneuver. You or others could
be injured. When you are done using the convenience net, always
store it in its original storage pouch,
and securely reattach the pouch
on the rear side of the spare tire cover.
I
PO22
If you have the optional luggage carrier, you can load things on top of your
vehicle. The luggage carrier has slats and side rails attached \
to the roof, and
cross rails which can be moved fore and aft in the side rail\
s to help secure
cargo. Tie the load to the side rails or side rail supports. Use the cross rails
mostly for fore and aft stops.
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Your Driving and the Road
Road Signs
The road signs you see everywhere are coded by color, shape a\
nd symbol. It’s a
good idea to know these codes so that you can quickly grasp the basic
meaning
or intent of the sign even before you have a chance to read it.
Color of Road Signs
I
n
rD0 NOT1
rn
WRONG
AM402001
RED means STOP. It may also indicate that some movement is not allowed.
Examples are
DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY.
RAIL1 4D
ADVANCE
CROSSING NO PASSING
ZONE
NARROW
BRIDGE
AM402002
YELLOW
indicates a general warning. Slow down and be careful when you
see a yellow sign. It
may signal a railroad crossing ahead, a no passing
zone, or some other potentially dangerous situation. Likewise, a\
yellow
solid
line painted on the road means “Don’t Cross.”
4-2

AM402008
A DIAMOND-shaped sign is a warning of something ahead-for example, the
end
of a divided highway, a curve, steep hill, soft shoulder, or a narrow
bridge.
AM402009
A TRIANGLE pointed downward, indicates YIELD. It assigns the right\
-of-way
to traffic on certain approaches to an intersection.
AM402010
A TRIANGULAR sign also is used on two-lane roads to indicate a NO
PASSING ZONE. This sign will be on the left side of the roadway.
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Pavement Markings
NO PASSING ZONE
AM40201 6
Pavement markings add to traffic signs and signals. They give information to
drivers without taking attention from the roadway. A solid yell\
ow line on your
side of the road or lane means “don’t cross.”
Your Own Signals
Drivers signal to others, too. It’s not only more polite, it’s safer, to let other
drivers know what you are doing. And in some places the law requires driver
signals.
Turn and lane change signals: Always signal when you plan to turn or
change lanes.
If necessary, you can use hand signals out the window: Left arm straight out
for
a left turn, down for slow or about-to-stop, and up for a right\
turn.
Slowing down: If time allows, tap the brake pedal once or twice in advance
of slowing or stopping. This warns the driver behind you.
Disabled: Your four-way flashers signal that your vehicle is disabled or \
is a
hazard. See “Hazard Warning Flasher” in the Index.
Traffic Officer
The traffic police officer is also a source of important information. The officer’s
signals govern, no matter what the traffic lights or other signs say. \
The next part discusses some of the road conditions you may e\
ncounter.
4-8

Brake System Warning Light
K2325
This light appears on your instrument cluster to warn you if your regular
braking system needs service. See “Brake System Warning Light\
”
in the
Index.
Disc Brake Wear lndicators
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a high\
-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are \
needed.
The sound may come and go or be heard all the time your veh\
icle is moving
(except when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
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CAUTION
The brake wear warning sound means that sooner or later your \
your
brakes won’t work well. That could lead to an accident. When you
hear the brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle serviced. \
I
NOTICE
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads could result in costly brakt
repair.
ome driving conditions
or climates may cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly applied. This does
not mean something is
wrong with your brakes.
4-1 7

Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens whe\
n the three
control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t ha\
ve enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying
to steer, and constantly seek an
escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive d\
rivers avoid
most skids by taking reasonable care suited
to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possib\
le.
The three types of skids correspond
to your vehicle’s three control systems.
In the braking skid your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering
or cornering
skid,
too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid too much throttle causes the
driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal. If your vehicle starts to slide (as when you turn
a corner on a wet, snow-
or ice-covered road), ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal as soon as you feel the vehicle start
to slide. Quickly steer
the way you want the vehicle
to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle will straighten out. As it does, straighten the front wheels.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel,
or other material
is on the road.
For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limit\
ed.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction,
try your best to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking (including engine braking by shifting
to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires t\
o slide. You
may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is \
skidding. Learn to
recognize warning clues-such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the
road to make a “mirrored surface”-and slow down when you have any\

doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking
skid. Steer the way you want
to go.
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Tips
You’ll
If you
on Driving in Fog
get caught in fog, turn your headlights on low beam, even in daytime.
see-and be seen-better. Use your fog lights
if your vehicle has them.
Don’t use your high beams. The light will bounce
off the water droplets that
make up fog and reflect back at you.
Use your defogger. In high humidity, even
a light buildup of moisture on the
inside of the glass
will cut down on your already limited visibility. Run your
windshield wiper and washer occasionally. Moisture can build up \
on the
outside glass, and what seems to be fog may actually be moist\
ure on the
outside of your windshield.
Treat dense fog as an emergency. Try to find a place
to pull off the road. Of
course you want to respect another’s property, but you might\
need to put
something between you and moving vehicles-space, trees, telephone\
poles,
a private driveway, anything that removes you from other traffi\
c.
If visibility is near zero and you must stop but are unsure whet\
her you are
away from the road, turn your lights
on, start your hazard warning flasher,
and sound your horn at intervals or when you hear approaching \
traffic.
Pass other vehicles in fog only
if you can see far enough ahead to pass
safely. Even then, be prepared to delay your pass if you susp\
ect the fog is
worse up ahead.
If other vehicles try to pass you, make it easy for them.
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